Chlamydia Symptoms
Chlamydia is one of the most widespread of all STDs, but unfortunately chlamydia symptoms are not nearly as common. In both men and women, chlamydia symptoms are frequently non-existent.
It is estimated that approximately 75 percent of infected women and about 50 percent of infected men exhibit no chlamydia symptoms at all. When chlamydia symptoms do appear, they are almost always seen within 1 to 3 weeks after the disease has been contracted.
Chlamydia is a bacterial infection, and in women it attacks the cervix and urethra. If chlamydia symptoms do occur in an infected woman, they usually include some type of vaginal discharge or a burning sensation during urination. The serious problems become most prevalent when chlamydia spreads from the cervix into the fallopian tubes.
There are still very minimal chlamydia symptoms, even after the disease spreads to the fallopian tubes. The few chlamydia symptoms that can be observed at this stage include pain in the lower abdomen or lower back, nausea, bleeding between periods and pain during sex.
Infected men also experience a limited number of chlamydia symptoms, but they can include a discharge coming from the penis, feeling a burning sensation during urination or burning and itching near the opening of the penis. In rare cases, an infected man may suffer from swollen or painful testicles.
Chlamydia infection is not limited to having vaginal intercourse with an infected partner. Chlamydia can also be transmitted during anal and oral sex. If contracted during anal sex, chlamydia symptoms may appear as rectal bleeding, discharge or pain. Chlamydia can also be found in the throats of men and women who have performed oral sex on an infected partner.
Since infection cannot usually be discovered through chlamydia symptoms, yearly testing is recommended for anyone who is at high risk for contracting chlamydia. High risk categories include:
• Women aged 25 and under who are sexually active
• Men and women who have recently begun a sexual relationship with a new partner
• Men and women with multiple sex partners
Chlamydia can have serious complications, especially when it is not treated. In women, untreated chlamydia can spread from the cervix, where it begins, to the fallopian tubes or uterus, where it can cause chronic pelvic pain, ectopic pregnancy and worse. In severe cases, the lack of treatment can eventually lead to infertility due to scarring in the fallopian tubes.
The best way to avoid being infected with Chlamydia is to refrain from engaging in sexual activity. If that is not possible, it is recommended that sexual intercourse occurs only within the boundaries of a monogamous relationship, where the sexual history of the partner is known. The proper and regular use of condoms can also decrease the chances of contracting chlamydia.